Bon Agornin is dying and his family have gathered for his end. The body is barely cool before it is torn apart and eaten, but then that's what dragonsBon Agornin is dying and his family have gathered for his end. The body is barely cool before it is torn apart and eaten, but then that's what dragons do. In the aftermath of Bon's death, his children are split from the family home and each must find their own path to love and happiness.

I had an odd start to this book. The idea of a Victorian romance with dragons is an awesome one, and the first chapter should have been a great introduction to it, with the tension between the style of writing and the subject of what happens to Bon's remains. And yet, it took an effort of will to come back to the book. I don't know why, it's certainly not the book's fault, but maybe more to do with my state of mind at the time. I'm very definitely glad that I did force myself back because I devoured (heh) the rest of the book in an afternoon.

On the cover, Jane Yolen calls it the "Pride and Prejudice of the dragon world", and I can't really disagree with much there. It's got Jane Austen's sharp eye for people (even if they are dragons) and satire and some very likeable characters. Walton does a great job of 'show not tell' regarding dragon society and the worldbuilding is excellent.

As a confirmed fan of the sorts of Victorian/Regency romances being mimicked, I can certainly see myself coming back to this and hopefully being able to savour the language and writing now that I'm not rushing headlong to discover what happens next....more

I recently got the first four volumes of this series which are short enough to read in quick succession, so I'll use the same review for all four of tI recently got the first four volumes of this series which are short enough to read in quick succession, so I'll use the same review for all four of them.

The Big Event that drives the story here is that one day every male mammal on Earth dies, except Yorrick Brown and his pet monkey. Yorrick isn't particularly unique or even interesting. He doesn't have a job and makes a bit of money as an amateur escape artist. But he eventually finds his (congresswoman) mother and begins a quest across America to try and find someone who can use his genetic material to try and either figure out what happened or help repopulate the species, all the time trying to ward off advances as he tries to stay loyal to his fiancée, not to mention the nutter man-haters and international forces who quickly hear about him and try and kill or capture him.

After four volumes, I'm quite enjoying this, but it's definitely nowhere near as good as Vaughan's subsequent project, Saga. Yorrick is an annoying mix of smug, self-satisfied and self-loathing that doesn't endear him to me, although he does improve over time, as the body count racks up around him.

There's interesting hints about what caused this "plague", with a possible magical origin hinted at. Then there's a secret society and his bodyguard, known only as 'agent 355'. The sexual and gender politics doesn't ring that true to me, and the whole 'Daughters of Amazon' man-haters seem very odd and hardly something that would come to the fore in the portrayed situation.

Still, there's lots of interest here and I probably will finish the series. But even if you don't like this, don't let it put you off the much better Saga which, in my opinion, handles family, sexuality and politics much better than this....more

I recently got the first four volumes of this series which are short enough to read in quick succession, so I'll use the same review for all four of tI recently got the first four volumes of this series which are short enough to read in quick succession, so I'll use the same review for all four of them.

The Big Event that drives the story here is that one day every male mammal on Earth dies, except Yorrick Brown and his pet monkey. Yorrick isn't particularly unique or even interesting. He doesn't have a job and makes a bit of money as an amateur escape artist. But he eventually finds his (congresswoman) mother and begins a quest across America to try and find someone who can use his genetic material to try and either figure out what happened or help repopulate the species, all the time trying to ward off advances as he tries to stay loyal to his fiancée, not to mention the nutter man-haters and international forces who quickly hear about him and try and kill or capture him.

After four volumes, I'm quite enjoying this, but it's definitely nowhere near as good as Vaughan's subsequent project, Saga. Yorrick is an annoying mix of smug, self-satisfied and self-loathing that doesn't endear him to me, although he does improve over time, as the body count racks up around him.

There's interesting hints about what caused this "plague", with a possible magical origin hinted at. Then there's a secret society and his bodyguard, known only as 'agent 355'. The sexual and gender politics doesn't ring that true to me, and the whole 'Daughters of Amazon' man-haters seem very odd and hardly something that would come to the fore in the portrayed situation.

Still, there's lots of interest here and I probably will finish the series. But even if you don't like this, don't let it put you off the much better Saga which, in my opinion, handles family, sexuality and politics much better than this....more

I recently got the first four volumes of this series which are short enough to read in quick succession, so I'll use the same review for all four of tI recently got the first four volumes of this series which are short enough to read in quick succession, so I'll use the same review for all four of them.

The Big Event that drives the story here is that one day every male mammal on Earth dies, except Yorrick Brown and his pet monkey. Yorrick isn't particularly unique or even interesting. He doesn't have a job and makes a bit of money as an amateur escape artist. But he eventually finds his (congresswoman) mother and begins a quest across America to try and find someone who can use his genetic material to try and either figure out what happened or help repopulate the species, all the time trying to ward off advances as he tries to stay loyal to his fiancée, not to mention the nutter man-haters and international forces who quickly hear about him and try and kill or capture him.

After four volumes, I'm quite enjoying this, but it's definitely nowhere near as good as Vaughan's subsequent project, Saga. Yorrick is an annoying mix of smug, self-satisfied and self-loathing that doesn't endear him to me, although he does improve over time, as the body count racks up around him.

There's interesting hints about what caused this "plague", with a possible magical origin hinted at. Then there's a secret society and his bodyguard, known only as 'agent 355'. The sexual and gender politics doesn't ring that true to me, and the whole 'Daughters of Amazon' man-haters seem very odd and hardly something that would come to the fore in the portrayed situation.

Still, there's lots of interest here and I probably will finish the series. But even if you don't like this, don't let it put you off the much better Saga which, in my opinion, handles family, sexuality and politics much better than this....more

I recently got the first four volumes of this series which are short enough to read in quick succession, so I'll use the same review for all four of tI recently got the first four volumes of this series which are short enough to read in quick succession, so I'll use the same review for all four of them.

The Big Event that drives the story here is that one day every male mammal on Earth dies, except Yorrick Brown and his pet monkey. Yorrick isn't particularly unique or even interesting. He doesn't have a job and makes a bit of money as an amateur escape artist. But he eventually finds his (congresswoman) mother and begins a quest across America to try and find someone who can use his genetic material to try and either figure out what happened or help repopulate the species, all the time trying to ward off advances as he tries to stay loyal to his fiancée, not to mention the nutter man-haters and international forces who quickly hear about him and try and kill or capture him.

After four volumes, I'm quite enjoying this, but it's definitely nowhere near as good as Vaughan's subsequent project, Saga. Yorrick is an annoying mix of smug, self-satisfied and self-loathing that doesn't endear him to me, although he does improve over time, as the body count racks up around him.

There's interesting hints about what caused this "plague", with a possible magical origin hinted at. Then there's a secret society and his bodyguard, known only as 'agent 355'. The sexual and gender politics doesn't ring that true to me, and the whole 'Daughters of Amazon' man-haters seem very odd and hardly something that would come to the fore in the portrayed situation.

Still, there's lots of interest here and I probably will finish the series. But even if you don't like this, don't let it put you off the much better Saga which, in my opinion, handles family, sexuality and politics much better than this....more

I first encountered Eugie Foster via the Escape Artists podcasts, mostly Podcastle, where I knew that a Foster story was probably one that I was goingI first encountered Eugie Foster via the Escape Artists podcasts, mostly Podcastle, where I knew that a Foster story was probably one that I was going to enjoy. I was sorry to hear of her death last year and that was one thing that pushed me toward getting this collection, which I've finally got around to reading.

It's a collection of retellings of, or stories inspired by, far-eastern myths, with no other real unifying feature. But the far-eastern link is enough for me, and I enjoyed just about every story in the collection. Stand outs include A Thread of Silk about a woman who vows to kill the man who killed her father; The Tanuki-Kettle, a whimsical fairy tale about a mischievous tanuki spirit who hides in the form of a tea-kettle; and Year of the Fox, telling of a rash promise made in childhood and its consequences.

Foster is a confident storyteller, building great worlds. Her afterwords after each story are a nice way into the author's mind, telling how each one came about. I'll definitely be looking out for more of her work....more

In the latest volume of the continuing, er, saga, of Hazel and her family, avoiding pursuit and trying to live a normal life, Alana gets an acting jobIn the latest volume of the continuing, er, saga, of Hazel and her family, avoiding pursuit and trying to live a normal life, Alana gets an acting job while Marco is house-husband; Prince Robot IV discovers he has a son; and Gwendolyn and Sophie are trying to find something that will help The Will.

I'm still loving this series, although I'm starting to wish I hadn't discovered it for another few years - reading a single volume (that takes an hour or two to read) every 6-9 months is really frustrating.

The characters all continue to get good development. I particularly enjoy Marco and Alana's relationship, which feels vibrant and realistic. They're just trying to figure out keeping a relationship together and raise a child, (while avoiding being murdered by their respective peoples).

There was a slight discontinuity, I think, for Prince Robot IV. When we last saw him at the end of volume 3, he was injured and returning to his ship. Here, he shows up on the sex planet, with no explanation why, or how he got there, which is a little disappointing. But that's more than made up for by the plot with his son, and his relationship with his father.

Saga continues to be highly entertaining, touching and moving, while at the same time showing ultra-violence and fairly graphic sex. I don't know how it gets away with it, but it's still utterly enchanting....more

Two children have gone missing, somewhere in the country. There's no obvious magical involvement, but just to be sure, PC Peter Grant goes up to haveTwo children have gone missing, somewhere in the country. There's no obvious magical involvement, but just to be sure, PC Peter Grant goes up to have a look. And being Peter, can't help getting involved. First just with family liaison and then, once things start getting weirder, more centrally.

This book takes Peter Grant out of his comfort zone, out of London (something that, speaking as a non-Londoner, they could all do with, once in a while). As one of the other reviews here says, it feels very much like a holding book. A chance for everyone to catch their breath before plunging on to whatever comes next. That's not a criticism, far from it. Aaronovitch is an excellent writer, and Peter Grant's narrative voice could keep me entertained for much longer than just this volume. The geek references, the police chatter, it's all present and correct, and very readable. What's missing is the usual crowd. Peter is isolated here; apart from some phone calls from Nightingale and Walid (and Lesley!) none of the usual supporting cast turn up, which makes our protagonist feel all the more vulnerable.

The wizarding world is expanded a bit here too, with retired wizard Hugh Oswald hinting about more of them around and providing some more background into Ettersberg. And we finally get a little bit more information about Molly as well, who hasn't really had much attention since Rivers of London.

What lets the book down a bit is the ending. It's going great and then you suddenly realise that there's not much book left and wonder how all the plot strands are going to be wrapped up. In a phrase: they aren't. So much is left hanging that it really doesn't feel like there's any resolution, which leaves me feeling frustrated. Even just another chapter at the end where Nightingale turns up and provides some exposition would have helped.

I'll still definitely read the next book (and the one after that, I dare say) but I think I'll start borrowing them from the library now....more

Chris Popham is a travelling salesman, although rather than purveying electrical goods or tupperware, he sells magical tat, relying on his trusty SatNChris Popham is a travelling salesman, although rather than purveying electrical goods or tupperware, he sells magical tat, relying on his trusty SatNav to get him to his destination. He's only slightly surprised when his navigational aid starts talking back, advising him on making sales and so forth, and then Things start to happen to him. Demons start appearing around him, his boss saddles him with a graduate trainee and his best friend starts acting oddly. And that's just day one.

This book had a pretty complex plot, and I'm not entirely sure it pulled off the trick of telling the story through the knots in the plot. Trying to keep track of who was alive/dead; lying at any given time; or remembering the small details that would, no doubt, turn out to be important was tricky, to say the least.

Chris was a likeable enough protagonist, just trying to make sense of the world around him, which seemed to have gone mad. He's as grounded as someone whose day to day job involves selling portable parking spaces and bank holidays in a DVD can be.

Oh, and despite spotting that the dried water was a Chekov's Gun, I still have no idea what it really did or why it was important to the plot. Still, for all that, I did find myself still thinking about the book, trying to unravel it for a day or two after I finished it. It would probably make more sense on a second read, but I don't know if I can really be bothered....more

This intriguing book posits the two cities of Beszel and Ul Qoma. These cities aren't just neighbours, they sit on top of and alongside each other. SoThis intriguing book posits the two cities of Beszel and Ul Qoma. These cities aren't just neighbours, they sit on top of and alongside each other. Some posit a 'Cleavage' in deep history, others a Conjoining, but the origin of the cities is lost in antiquity. What is remarkable about the cities is how they live together: citizens in both are trained from an early age to 'unsee' and 'unhear' everything in the other, from the buildings and architecture to the people sharing the streets to the cars on the road. And overseeing it all is Breach, which enforces the separation with an iron fist.

In Beszel, Inspector Tyador Borlú finds himself heading up the case of a murdered woman, which turns out to be more than he expected, and soon finds himself having to make the journey of a few steps physically, but enormous distance psychologically, to Ul Qoma and eventually gets on the trail of a mysterious third city, rumoured to share the space between the other two.

There's a solid hard-boiled murder mystery at the core of this book, and Borlú is a good hard-boiled detective, trying to do what's right while navigating the labyrinthine laws and mores of his society. The real stars of the book are Beszel and Ul Qoma. It's fascinating seeing Miéville constructing this very believable twinned but very much separate society and the effort that both sets of citizens go to to maintain it. Every so often, Miéville throws in something that lets you know that this isn't some fantasy world: the city and the city are somewhere on the edge of Europe, in a world where there's Coke, Google, and so forth. It makes them feel even odder, but at the same time, there's nothing that I couldn't particularly believe might go on somewhere in the depths of Eastern Europe.

The language of the book is quite spare and easy to read, although I did find something about it that meant that I had to parse a sentence a few times before I got it. It's not the writing or the grammar, but sometimes oddly placed commas or (lack of) paragraph breaks just made me pause and think a bit. It just goes to show how important that these structures are to our writing, no matter what some people might insist.

An enjoyable book that definitely keeps you on your toes while reading, and never ends up going where you think it will....more

This is a quite sweet fairy tale about a girl who gets lost and has to find her way home, going through the traditional quests and challenges. It alsoThis is a quite sweet fairy tale about a girl who gets lost and has to find her way home, going through the traditional quests and challenges. It also just happens to be a lovely little primer on some of the fundamental concepts and problems of computing science (without any mention of computers).

It's short and I was able to read it in an afternoon. It was nice to see a lot of concepts that I'm familiar with as a CS graduate and software engineer by trade be introduced here so subtly that (hopefully!) any child reading it won't realise that they're learning. There are also lots of lovely puns for adults or those who have a CS background to admire/groan at (delete as appropriate).

This is going to go on my bookshelf until my niece is a few years older, at which point I'll pass it on to her to try and begin her indoctrination to computing.

Oh, and a nice little touch for a C-style programmer such as myself is that the page numbering started from page 0 :-)....more

"Don't be silly, there's no such thing as vampires!" That is the recurring refrain of this book. Of course there are vampires, and Bob Howard has to d"Don't be silly, there's no such thing as vampires!" That is the recurring refrain of this book. Of course there are vampires, and Bob Howard has to deal with a nest that has emerged in a leading investment bank in the City, on top of struggling with his marriage, dealing with management cargo-cult of Google and a slightly psychotic ex-girlfriend.

Goodness me, this was certainly a bit of a challenging book. I enjoyed the light-touch humour and tongue-in-cheek Lovecraft of the early the Laundry novels, but they have certainly been growing grim of late. This one lulls you into a false sense of security and then whams you in the last few chapters, leaving you bruised, yet also desperate for the next one, given what happened at the climax of this one.

There's still lots to like here, with Pete, the vicar who Bob drafts in for some research in the The Apocalypse Codex, becoming more of a player, as well as Alex, the vampire banker who kicks off the whole affair but is probably one of the more sympathetic characters in the book.

But, I do have to wonder if it's time to give up on the Laundry. Horror has never been my favourite genre and these days, as CASE NIGHTMARE GREEN draws ever closer, Bob's memoirs are definitely more horrific than humorous....more

Digger is a wombat. She hits a patch of swamp gas while digging one day, which causes her to have a bad trip. When she comes to her senses, she's compDigger is a wombat. She hits a patch of swamp gas while digging one day, which causes her to have a bad trip. When she comes to her senses, she's completely lost, so digs in the only direction where she's sure to encounter something: up. She finds a talking statue of Ganesh, a religious police captain a little too enthusiastic about his job, oracular slugs, hyenas with attitude and much, much more. Magic gets involved, as does prophecy, both of which are enough to make a wombat's fur itch, but Digger does what she must to deal with multiple gods and try and find her way home.

I originally read this story online at Diggercomic.com and fell in love with the practical, pragmatic Digger within about ten pages. Digger is a fantastic character, the perfect foil for the magic- and prophecy-ridden land she finds herself in. As the statue says within minutes of meeting her "In the seven hundred years that I have been a temple statue, I have never head someone utter the words 'a god' in the same tone that one might describe, oh... foot fungus".

There is a sense of size to the world the Vernon builds. You get the impression that this is just one story amongst many that could be told about the Cerulean mountains and its inhabitants and the fates and destinies that seem to cross there.

While Digger is most definitely the head of the story, its heart is the most excellent Ed. A faceless monster when we first meet him, he soon develops into a complex and very interesting character. We cheer up as much as Digger does every time she goes to meet him, as he always has a good word and some tea to hand.

The whole story of Digger is huge, and I'm very glad I got to the webcomic after it had been completed (taking over half a decade, I believe), but I was even gladder to read it on paper, rather than clicking through, a page at a time. Even if the book is huge and unwieldy (about 1.6kg, if you're interested), it's substantially cheaper than buying each of the six volumes individually (especially including shipping to Europe).

Another thing I really liked about this is that not only is Digger female, but so are many of other the characters who drive the plot forward. This isn't in your face or anything, but it's just there (and hell, I wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of Boneclaw Mother). It's the sort of thing I shouldn't even need to mention, but unfortunately, it's still very much important that we see multiple female characters interacting like this, without the need for a man to be involved (hello Bechdel test).

A marvellous story, then, one that I recommend without reservation to anyone with the slightest interest in fantasy....more

Harry Dresden is a wizard who lives in Chicago. Unlike all the other wizards, he's in the Phone Book, under 'Wizard'. Yes, this gets him crank calls,Harry Dresden is a wizard who lives in Chicago. Unlike all the other wizards, he's in the Phone Book, under 'Wizard'. Yes, this gets him crank calls, but also enough real ones, not to mention a retainer with the Chicago PD's 'weird crimes' unit, to (barely) make a living. Now he has to find a missing husband and solve a murder committed with magic while avoiding the wrath of his professional body and the intricacies of the Chicago mob.

This book was slow to grow on me. I nearly gave up a few times within the first few chapters. I wasn't liking our protagonist, and his cases weren't grabbing me either. I'm glad I persevered though, as once I got into it, I did enjoy it. Dresden grew on me, as his combination of wannabe tough exterior and compassionate heart got him into scrape after scrape. Mind you, it was obvious that his cases were going to be linked from almost the start, and the identity of the killer wasn't a huge leap either, but seeing how Dresden put the clues together was fun.

There's obviously back story there, and it's sort of nice to see how magic works in this world. Seeds have also been sown for the future, and enemies made who will obviously make Harry's life miserable in future books. However, although I enjoyed this one, I don't know when or if I'll go back to his world....more

I only found out that these spin-offs from Neil Gaiman's Sandman series existed recently and I'm still confused as to why there are only two volumes cI only found out that these spin-offs from Neil Gaiman's Sandman series existed recently and I'm still confused as to why there are only two volumes collecting just 16 of the 60 issues of the series. From reading this book, which collects issues 1-8, split into three stories, the quality of both the stories and art is definitely high enough for me to want to read the rest of it. Who do I badger to get them on the case?

Of the three stories in this volume, I think the second one is my favourite, even though it's the one least connected to the Dreaming. The first volume tells the story of Goldie, the golden gargoyle who lives with Cain and Abel and the third is also a Cain and Abel story, with an unwanted relative coming to visit them. While Cain and Abel can be fun characters, Cain's bad habit of repeatedly killing his brother can get a bit wearing. The second story, The Lost Boy, tells the story of Brian Salmon, an architect living in the 1950s, who has an encounter with fairies and finds himself pushed forward in time, via the Dreaming, to the 1990s. Here, he has to try and survive the bizarre world he comes to and try and get home. There is also a cameo from Johanna Constantine and the main plot driver is Mad Hettie, both of whom appeared in Sandman.

There's a lot of scope to tell stories set in the Dreaming, and I'd love to read them all. I hope that Titan or DC or whoever can do so, rethinks the lack of collected volumes of this series....more

Volume three of this Saga is as marvellous as the rest of the story to date. This time we follow Alana, Marko and Hazel, along with ghostly babysitterVolume three of this Saga is as marvellous as the rest of the story to date. This time we follow Alana, Marko and Hazel, along with ghostly babysitter Izabel and grandmother Klara as they go to meet the writer who wrote the book that they fell in love over.

I continue to love this story, and now am gnashing my teeth that there won't be any more for some time to come, as I've caught up with the collected trade paperbacks (a similar problem as I have with Gunnerkrigg Court, although at least here I don't have the temptation of trying to read it three pages a week). Alana and Marko continue to be great protagonists. Their love for each other should be sickening for a cynical old so-and-so like me, but it's so, so sweet. And it's so funny as well. So many great lines, but which would make no sense out of context, so there's no point repeating them here.

This volume also introduces two new characters, a pair of journalists working for a tabloid who get wind of this star-crossed love story and start snooping around. Like every other character in the book, they aren't 2D stereotypes, but are rounded and have their own problems (not least of which is being accepted as gay on their home planet).

I have no idea where Vaughan and Staples are going with this story, but I'm sure as hell enjoying the ride....more

Death has been fired (although allowed to keep the horse). This leads to some, er, inconvenience. Windle Poons is a wizard who was supposed to die, buDeath has been fired (although allowed to keep the horse). This leads to some, er, inconvenience. Windle Poons is a wizard who was supposed to die, but finds himself at a loss so ends up back in his body, not quite dead, but not quite alive. You might say, un-dead. He tries to figure out what's going on, while somewhere in the Ramtop mountains, Death learns about living.

I love this book. It's an old favourite although I haven't read it for several years now. Coming back to it, it's still fresh and enjoyable as the first time I read it. It's still laugh out loud funny, but also introspective, as Death (as Bill Door [and the scene where he realises that he needs a name and tries to find out is hilarious]) learns about the people that before he had only regarded as 'the harvest'. And his speech to Azrael still tugs at my heartstrings. The speech ending with the quote 'LORD, WHAT CAN THE HARVEST HOPE FOR, IF NOT FOR THE CARE OF THE REAPER MAN?' puts a lump in my throat every time.

While Bill Door's story is touching, that of Windle and the wizards over in Ankh-Morpork is downright hilarious. The wizards always provide great fun, and Windle and his merry band of undead is a great group that I wish we'd seen more of (although Reg Shoe pops up in more than one book later one).

And, of course, this is the book that introduces us to the Grim Squeaker: the Death of Rats, the most adorable creature to ever wield a scythe.

Warm-hearted, hilarious and thought provoking. This is Pratchett at his finest....more

This book retells the fairly familiar story of Norse mythology, but from the point of view of the trickster god, Loki. As you may imagine, the TrickstThis book retells the fairly familiar story of Norse mythology, but from the point of view of the trickster god, Loki. As you may imagine, the Trickster isn't the most reliable narrator, but Harris does a good job of getting inside his head and making him sympathetic, even when recounting some of his more unpleasant acts (such as arranging the killing of Baldor). As well as that tale, we have other familiar myths recounted here, including his involvement in acquiring mighty weapons for the Aesir, getting Thor to dress up as a bride and tricking Frey to give up his runesword.

This is all told in the first person, and we see Loki from the start, when he was tamed from the Chaos by Odin, to the early desire to belong and fit in at Asgard to the disillusionment and anger that leads to his turning his back on the gods and eventually to Ragnarok.

Loki is an engaging narrator, with a wry wit and humorous turn of phrase. The reader finds themselves being drawn into his point of view and wanting him to succeed, even as we follow him to the final betrayal at the end of the world.

Harris has done a great job here of finding a fresh retelling of the Norse myths and this is a very enjoyable way to rediscover them....more

Volume 2 of this series continues the story of Hazel, told in the first person from some point in her future life, as she, her star-crossed parents anVolume 2 of this series continues the story of Hazel, told in the first person from some point in her future life, as she, her star-crossed parents and her ghostly babysitter escape the planet where Hazel had been born, and where they were being hunted by both sides in the war they're trying to escape from, only to run into something much worse: in-laws.

I'm still adoring this story, with its smart dialogue, great characters and marvellous background of a galaxy-spanning war. Alana and Marko are very relatable to as they struggle to do what's right for each other and their newborn daughter; Marko's parents, his father in particular, are just worried about their son, especially that he might have fallen in with the 'wrong crowd' and for a merciless bounty hunter, The Will really has a soft side.

From everyone's point of view, they're just trying to do the right thing, it's just that some of these things involve killing people, while others involve fleeing for their lives. I love the complexity that means that you can't just hate the people chasing our protagonists, but you see their point of view.

The mental imagery keeps coming too, with Fiona Staples' art easily keeping up with what must be a really weird script to read (seriously, a three-eyed giant with a penis brushing the ground?). It's all beautifully insane, but somehow internally consistent. Roll on the next volume....more

Two soldiers from a galaxy-spanning war meet, fall in love and have a child. This is their story, and that of the child as they struggle to survive, bTwo soldiers from a galaxy-spanning war meet, fall in love and have a child. This is their story, and that of the child as they struggle to survive, being hunted by all sides for just trying to live.

The story in this graphic novel doesn't hang around. It grabs you hard right from the opening panels. You sort of fall in love with these two people, and their obvious love for each other. The fact that one of them has wings and is from a technological civilisation, while the other has ram's horns and can do magic is neither here nor there.

The backstory is intriguing, some of the secondary characters grotesque and intriguing (what's with the Robot kingdom, for a start?) and I really like Izabel, the ghost child. The main plot is also really interesting and certainly makes me want to read more. Great cliffhanger too....more

Book four of Peter Grant's ongoing adventures see him, fellow PC (and apprentice) Lesley May and their guv'nor Nightingale try and put together cluesBook four of Peter Grant's ongoing adventures see him, fellow PC (and apprentice) Lesley May and their guv'nor Nightingale try and put together clues linking an apparent suicide of a town planner, the crowning glory of a somewhat mad German architect, a stolen grimoire and a rather grisly murder. Somewhere in there he has to provide protection for a spring celebration given by the God and Goddess of the Thames, try and figure out his feelings for Beverly Brook and continue his work in bringing science to the craft of magic.

Phew, that's a lot to fit in to a book that's just over 350 pages long, but it does it admirably. I don't often sit and read books cover to cover in a single afternoon these days, but I did it for this one. The prose is light and easy to read, the characters likeable and PC Grant is still the everyman science geek who wants to know the 'why' of magic as much as the 'how'. Throwing in pop culture references like hand grenades, making the book fizzle with energy.

It's nice to see the gods and goddesses of the river make an appearance again in this book, although they're mostly an extended cameo (although I suspect that the scenes with Beverly Brook are setting more up for the future). We learn a little more about the magical background of the world in this volume as well, including the fact that there are possibly equivalents to the Folly in other countries. The Faceless Man makes another appearance, retaining all his charm and menace. He remains a formidable opponent, one you you get the feeling may actually be a match for Nightingale.

The edition I read also had a short story set in the world of the Folly at the end called 'The Cockpit'. This must take place sometime before the events of the main book and sees Peter and Lesley staking out a bookshop where weird things have been happening. Fairly slight but fun.

Detective Inspector James Quill is about to complete an undercover operation that's been running for several years when his chief suspect, Rob ToshackDetective Inspector James Quill is about to complete an undercover operation that's been running for several years when his chief suspect, Rob Toshack, is killed whilst in custody. His Superintendent then puts him in charge of a small team consisting of an intelligence analyst and two undercover detectives to try and find out what happened. As they do so, they find their eyes opened to a strange sideways London that sits alongside the one they knew. The team must work out their own differences, use their new Sight to solve Toshack's murder and nick the Witch of West Ham.

This book took a bit of time to get going. It wasn't really until Toshack's murder in custody and the events that follow that it really gets into gear. I liked Quill and the driven intelligence analyst Lisa Ross. The two other protagonists were more 'complex'. DS Costain is possibly a bit bent, and is convinced he's going to hell, and trying to make up for it, while DC Sefton is trying his best to understand the Sight, live up to expectations of a gay, black man in the Met and live down his childhood issues.

Superficially, this book is similar to Ben Aaronovitch's 'Peter Grant' novels, but while those are easy to read and quite light, this is dark. The magic in Cornell's world is driven by sacrifice, which can only make for a fairly dark novel. I found that grimness a little much, if I'm honest. This is probably a 3.5 star book for me, but I'll round up because the metastory of what's going on with the Sight and how Quill and his team ended up Sighted is an intriguing one. The feel of the story was quite one-sided though, as there is lots of play from the powers of evil, but only our small team, stumbling about in the dark trying to put things right (although this does lead to quite a funny scene where they get a priest, a rabbi and an imam to try and bless several objects in the hope that it might prove effective against their opponents). It's the intriguing hint of back story towards the end regarding this that has piqued my interest.

I don't know if I'll read the sequel, but it does make me want to read Broken Homes (the latest Peter Grant novel) for something similar but (hopefully) with less pain and death....more

This novella has an unusual format, being in the form of fragmented interviews about a film star who has recently disappeared in mysterious circumstanThis novella has an unusual format, being in the form of fragmented interviews about a film star who has recently disappeared in mysterious circumstances, following a brief, but stellar career.

The story certainly makes the reader work to tease out the truth behind the disappearance (and presumed death) of Sephanie Vamore, as you try and untangle the distorted and sometimes contradictory evidence provided by Hollywood people, all with their own axe to grind. And how does Vamore's life tie in to a mysterious book from Jewish legend?

Frankly, I still don't have much in the way of answers to these questions. I enjoyed the book more than I was expecting, but a combination of a warm day, drowsiness and a headache means that I probably didn't put in the effort required to get maximum benefit from this short book. Still, it's short enough that it'd be quick enough to read again....more

I picked up this 'primer' collection of Conan stories for free at the 2014 Eastercon mostly because I've never read any Howard before and felt that itI picked up this 'primer' collection of Conan stories for free at the 2014 Eastercon mostly because I've never read any Howard before and felt that it was a missing part of genre education.

The stories are a mixed bunch of shorts, novelettes and novellas, along with a poem and a background article on the Hyborian age (the mythical age of the world in which the stories are set). Due to the archetypical nature of Conan and his world, the stories actually felt quite familiar, given everything that has come afterwards. They're fun enough to read, if you don't mind the purple prose but the treatment of women and the casual racism do raise a sour note.

These are pretty much to be expected in the context of the time, and at least some of the women get to be pretty hard as well (the two I'm thinking of are both pirates, now that I come to think about it), although the gratuitous, lingering descriptions of their bodies and their general purpose as 'damsels in distress' or something for our hero to lust over feels a bit icky.

Still, as I say, they're fun stories and pretty foundational to the sword'n'sorcery genre. I sort of wish I'd encountered and read them when I was younger. They're made for teenage boys....more

Despite being told through the eyes of a child, this is very much not a children's book, with a lot of quite dark imagery and musings on life, death aDespite being told through the eyes of a child, this is very much not a children's book, with a lot of quite dark imagery and musings on life, death and childhood terror. The central theme, as Gaiman discusses in an interview at the end of the book, is to do with childhood powerlessness. Our nameless protagonist's world changes when their lodger steals their car, drives it to the end of the lane and commits suicide in it. This leads to him meeting Lettie Hempstock and her family, and gets involved with creatures and forces from beyond the boundaries of creation. But also leads to him getting involved in things he doesn't and can't understand or control. Whether it's his father's anger or a creature that wants to tear him from reality, it's about the power of adults over children.

It's not a long book, but it has some complexity and will benefit from rereading. But for the moment, it's given me a lot to think about. Gaiman's on good form with this one....more

I've encountered Gorel before in audio form (Buried Eyes, on the audio fiction podcast Podcastle) and I've been wanting to read more Lavie Tidhar, butI've encountered Gorel before in audio form (Buried Eyes, on the audio fiction podcast Podcastle) and I've been wanting to read more Lavie Tidhar, but despite its short length, I did keep getting somewhat confused and lost in this novella. I still have no real idea of what was going on, but this does feel like a component in a larger story. Perhaps with more knowledge of the character and setting, it would work better....more

Chava is a Golem, a creature made of clay, created to be a wife for a German merchant, around the turn of the 20th century. Her master/husband dies onChava is a Golem, a creature made of clay, created to be a wife for a German merchant, around the turn of the 20th century. Her master/husband dies on the crossing to America and Chava finds herself alone, newly awakened in a strange place. The Djinni known as Ahmad was trapped in a flask and accidentally freed by a metalsmith in New York's Little Syria. These two beings, from very different backgrounds eventually form an odd friendship, strangers in a strange land.

I loved this book. It certainly doesn't feel like a first novel. It felt assured, well-written and confident. The world-building was beautiful, we got to know the characters around our protagonists as much as the odd couple themselves. Wecker brought us inside the heads of her non-human protagonists beautifully. Despite being such different characters, driven by different drives and needs, we care for both of them, whether they're happy, in pain or about to do something really stupid. It was a joy to read, and I suspect will reward re-reading greatly, when I can enjoy the language and the words, without racing ahead to find out what happens next in the story.

The pacing is measured, as befits a book with a 600+ page-count, but never feels slow or unwarranted. Wecker knew how to use each word in the novel and did so to maximum effect. Beautiful, intelligent and moving. Unreservedly recommended....more

It's been several years since I last read this book and I'd forgotten just how funny it was. Full of bickering secret societies, class warfare and socIt's been several years since I last read this book and I'd forgotten just how funny it was. Full of bickering secret societies, class warfare and social climbing, dragons, insightful social commentary and humans brought up as dwarfs (well, a dragon and a human brought up as a dwarf) and also laugh out loud funny, Guards! Guards! is our first view of Captain Sam Vimes and his motley crew of city watchmen. Rereading this after some time, it's like seeing photos of your parents when they were young. It's slightly disconcerting to think that so many events that I think of as established fact are still in their future, they're young and full of hope (well, Carrot is anyway) and Pratchett is still gleefully and energetically pastiching all the fantasy he can get his hands on.

Men at Arms will always be my favourite 'Watch' book on the Discworld, but Guards! Guards! is still a hilarious introduction to the Discworld, Ankh-Morpork and the City Watch (motto: fabricati diem, pvnc: 'to protect and to serve', according to Sergeant Colon)....more

There's an American preacher reaching up to Number 10 and getting much deeper than he should. The Laundry are worried, so they send (the long-sufferinThere's an American preacher reaching up to Number 10 and getting much deeper than he should. The Laundry are worried, so they send (the long-suffering) Bob Howard to investigate. Well, they send some other people and send Bob to keep an eye on them. I guess he's finding out who watches the watchers.

We find out more about the Laundry in the fourth book in Stross's series, and there are revelations about Bob including fallout from the last book (The Fuller Memorandum) and a bit of a jaw-dropping ending (not to mention the worrying sight of an Auditor smiling).

This book wasn't nearly as dark as its predecessor. It had some disturbing images (maternity/spinal injury unit, I'm looking at you!), but nothing along the lines of what happens in the previous volume. I'm very glad of that, although I still think that as CASE NIGHTMARE GREEN approaches, I may find the books harder to read (post-apocalyptic fiction isn't really something I like).

This book did continue a trend started in the Fuller Memorandum of it not all being told in the first person. Stross (and Bob) acknowledge that it's sometimes useful to be able to tell things from other points of view, and this is acknowledged at the outset of this volume of 'Bob's memoires'. Following the end of this book, I think this is something we'll probably see more of this to come, as Bob leaves the everyman sphere that made him such a great narrator as part of his rise up the management tree.

Cameos from Pinky and Brains are present and correct, and this book's gadget is a bit of a doozy (even if I don't think it gets nearly enough use).

So still spy-fi-ish, but as CASE NIGHTMARE GREEN looms and the loonies and cultists (sorry, tautology) come out to play, the books are getting steadily darker in tone. Still very enjoyable, if not as much fun as they have been....more

Zoe Norris has come back to her home town of New York and is in need of a job. She sees something interesting, and despite the attempts of several peoZoe Norris has come back to her home town of New York and is in need of a job. She sees something interesting, and despite the attempts of several people to put her off, she applies for and gets it, as managing editor of a small publishing house that's just starting up. It's at this point she discovers that it's a very niche publishing house, whose director is a vampire, and with co-workers including a death goddess, some zombies, a water sprite and an incubus. With a new world of monsters coterie opened up to her, she tries to get a travel guide to New York published while at the same time trying to deal with what she's learned and getting over her last relationship.

I really enjoyed this novel. I first became aware of Mur Lafferty when she used to read occasionally for the short story podcast, Escape Pod, later becoming its editor. She's created a great character in Zoe and the people around her, whether human or coterie. Her New York, that most of its inhabitants are completely unaware of, is sparkling and vibrant and the little excerpts from the eponymous Guide deepen the world and make you curious to find out more. I'll certainly look forward to the sequel....more